I enjoy that there is some learning curve and you don't get everything instantly with basically zero effort. I remember someone saying in the forums that a game like this is meant to be played for years, not days or few weeks. It's not brainless grinding if you don't choose to do so. It's quite ok that even if you don't touch the PP, you still can have the gaming experience you are looking for, most probably.
Everyone can choose what they do, when and how. Heck, you are not even forced to play open if you don't want to. The powerplay adds some depth to the game but not sure as I'm totally new with the PP still, how does it last in long run. I think there still should be some more depth though. Of course there is secret roadmap as every SW company has and there are certain smaller program targets which are achieved during the journey on the roadmap onwards.
Maybe all this will eventually fit in places and pieces as expansions and improvements keep coming. Still ED is not under monthly fee, which I am very happy about. Probably I would pay monthly fee for a game like this anyway
But for newcomers like myself, and peeps who just have started to play ED, I don't really see PP giving any extra benefit in the short run. The system as it is, serves more the peeps who have been around so much that they really have a) multiple ships b) hundreds of millions of extra credits to sink in stuff like buying merits.
But, I still don't see this as a problem, still a new player can completely ignore the PP until he/she sees that they could participate in it. You don't need to 100% fully understand the full game mechanism and all details to play. There is time and place for everything. Of course more hardcore-gamers do things in much different pace, fortunately there is the opportunity for them as well.
I have many friends who have families and they are still sitting in the sidewinder with 5k credits. We all have been there. They just are looking for a different gaming experience

like having few beers and chatting meanwhile killing few pirates and having a good laugh. We do that every now and then. And yes, it's very much fun.
Only thing what I am personally missing at the moment or I see as a small minor setback for my personal gameplay, is the option to choose any ship where/with to start when I click start from the start menu. In other multiplayer games where you have such many different ways to play the game, they have the option to play "different" character for example. Sometimes I feel like exploring/trading/bounty hunting/participating PvP/participating PP, but I see that any refitting/ship changing is too time-consuming and expensive (for me) that I am at the moment stuck to what I do. Which is bounty hunting and killing something -missions. In ED the "what should do today" -decision _must_ last for days/weeks/maybe even months

At least for myself. Of course this is due to my personal interest how I like to play. I personally admire peeps who can make like 6 months lasting agenda for them and hop into explorer and make hundreds of jumps towards unknown
